The Government has urged International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and local NGOs to donate their allocated funds to combat the coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka.
According to the Sunday Times, the funds have been sought for the remaining quarters of the year to battle against the pandemic which has surged to a critical situation in recent weeks.
Director-General (DG) of the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations, Raja Goonaratne said he had requested the organizations to donate the balance funds to the healthcare machinery that is short of supplies, after taking into consideration the prevalent Covid situation in Sri Lanka.
He held an urgent zoom meeting with heads of INGOs and NGOs last week to explain the urgent need to meet the medical requirements of the country in the battle against the pandemic, while he also presented comprehensive details of the medical requirements for public hospitals.
Mr. Goonaratne said already three NGOS had responded to the appeal and had agreed to donate money to buy High Flow Nasal Oxygen Machines.
Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi had informed authorities of the urgent need to buy High Flow Oxygen machines for state hospitals and had ordered Gooneratne to look into the possibility of buying those machines with the assistance of INGOs and NGOs.
Meanwhile, the Government will purchase 26 High Flow Nasal Oxygen machines each costing Rs 1.23 million. The Health Ministry’s Biomedical Engineering Services Division has granted approval and the machines will be bought from New Zealand on a tax-free basis under a two-year warranty contract. (NewsWire)